2014 Chevrolet Malibus with 2.5-liter engines are being recalled for a software issue that could affect the brakes. / John F. Martin/Chevrolet

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Detroit Free Press Business Writer

General Motors’ recall of 3 million additional global vehicles today boosts to 12.8 million the total of cars and trucks it has recalled so far this year.

The company said the latest series of recalls would cost $200 million in its second-quarter earnings report. Just over 2.7 million of the models recalled today are in the U.S. The new issues were collectively blamed for as many as 17 crashes, but no deaths.

In the first quarter the automaker took a $1.3-billion charge for the cost of replacing defective ignition switches on 2.6 million small cars, mostly from the 2003-2007 model years.

GM shares fell 58 cents, or 1.7%, to close at $34.36 Thursday. After the market closed, Barron’s reported that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has sold 25% of its GM share, and David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital, which held 17 million GM shares as of Dec. 31, has sold its entire stake, based on SEC filings.

The largest batch of today’s recalls was for 2.44 million cars that could have brake lights malfunction because of corrosion of a wiring harness. GM said it knew of the problem nearly six years ago, but had only issued a bulletin telling dealers of the problem and fixed a small number under a service campaign.

The issue affects 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibus, 2004-2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxxes, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6s and 2007-2010 Saturn Auras. GM said it was aware of several hundred complaints connected to the problem, as well as 13 crashes causing two injuries but no fatalities.

Some engineers in the company knew about the ignition switch defect — which has been linked to at least 31 accidents and 13 deaths — for more than a decade before a recall was ordered.

The automaker is now overhauling its safety analysis team and has pledged to be more responsive when it discovers defects.

“Customer safety is at the heart of how GM designs and produces vehicles, and these announcements are examples of two ways we are putting that into practice,” said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM global vehicle safety, in a statement. “We have redoubled our efforts to expedite and resolve current reviews and also have identified and analyzed recent vehicle issues which require action.”

GM announced the recalls, but the company was influenced by investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. GM will notify owners of the affected vehicles by mail.

“Owners should be able to quickly identify recall letters mailed to their residence thanks to a distinctive envelope label required by NHTSA earlier this year,” the safety agency said in a statement. “The agency strongly urges all consumers to utilize any of NHTSA’s many alert tools to quickly learn about new recalls on www.safercar.gov.”

Other models in today’s recall include:

■477 units of the 2014-15 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, and a few of the brand-new 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV to fix a tie-rod defect that could lead to a crash. With this condition, the tie rod can separate from the steering rack and cause a crash. The company is asking owners of these new vehicles to have them taken by flatbed to their dealer, where the inner tie rods will be inspected for correct torque, and, if necessary, the steering gear will be replaced.

■140,067 Chevrolet Malibus with 2.5-liter engines from the 2014 model year for an software issue that could cause the vehicles’ hydraulic brake boost system to be disabled, making it more difficult to stop the vehicle. The company said it was aware of four crashes, but they may not be connected to the defect.

■111,889 Chevrolet Corvettes from the 2005-07 model years that could lose low-beam headlamps. The automaker received several hundred complaints, it said. The company said 2008-13 model-year Corvettes would also be fixed. The issue has not been blamed for any crashes, injuries or deaths.